Careers in Environmental Studies

Planning
Areas: Air quality, aviation, building/zoning, land use, consulting, recreation, transportation, water resources
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local governments; consulting firms; banks; real estate development companies; law firms; architectural firms; market research companies; colleges and universities; nonprofit organizations

Education and communication
Areas: Teaching, journalism, tourism, law regulation, compliance, political action/lobbying
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local governments; consulting firms; public and private elementary/middle/high schools; political action committees; media companies; colleges and universities; nonprofit organizations

Solid waste management
Areas: Chemistry, engineering, hydrology, logistics, planning, recycling, transportation, compliance
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local governments; consulting firms; nonprofit organizations; private waste management firms

Hazardous waste management
Areas: Biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, geology, hydrogeology, logistics, planning, compliance, quality control, risk assessment, environmental engineering, public health, industrial hygiene, law
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local governments; consulting firms; nonprofit organizations; private companies that generate hazardous waste; hazardous waste management firms

Air quality management
Areas: Engineering, planning, analytical chemistry, environmental quality analysis, meteorology, risk assessment, safety and health management, toxicology, compliance, project development
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local governments; consulting firms; nonprofit organizations; private sector

Water quality management
Areas: Aquatic ecology, aquatic toxicology, law, biology, civil/environmental engineering, hydrogeology, drinking water supply and treatment, wastewater treatment, groundwater protection, surface water management, estuary management, wetlands protection, compliance, industrial engineering
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local governments; consulting firms; nonprofit organizations; treatment plans

Land and water conservation
Areas: Biology, ecology, planning, geographic information systems, preservation management, law, natural resource management, soil conservation, land acquisition
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local governments; consulting firms; nonprofit organizations; Native American nations; utilities and timber companies; land trust organizations, such as the Nature Conservancy or the Trust for Public Land

Fishery and wildlife management
Areas: Aquaculture, botany, data management, biology, hatchery management, marine biology, ecology, education, research, planning, law enforcement, conservation
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local government agencies, including wildlife refuges, management areas, and parks; consulting firms; nonprofit organizations; utilities companies; development firms; marine sport fisheries; scientific foundations; zoological parks; hunting and fishing clubs

Parks and outdoor recreation
Areas: Administration and management, law enforcement, recreation planning, natural resource management, research, site operations and maintenance, ecotourism, direct mail merchandising
Employers: National Park Service; federal agencies; state, county or city parks; resorts; marinas; privately owned facilities; nonprofit organizations

Forestry
Areas: Entomology, hydrology, natural resource management, planning, research, international forestry, urban forestry, resource interpretation, wood products/use, consulting
Employers: Federal, state, regional, and local government agencies, including the Forestry Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, national and state parks, and reserves; consulting firms; nonprofit organizations; timber, lumber, pulp, and paper companies; landowners; nature centers

Environmental law
Areas: Environmental law
Employers: Federal and state government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Attorney General; private firms and corporations; nonprofit organizations, such as Green Action and Natural Resources Defense Council

Biosystems engineering
Areas: Power and machinery, structures and environment, electronic systems, soil and water conservation, food engineering, engineering technology, equipment technology
Employers: Equipment technology, design, testing and manufacturing firms; equipment and food industries; quality control organizations for food, feed, or fiber; biotechnology research firms; environmental consulting firms; federal, state and local governments; public health service

Plant and soil sciences
Areas: Crop production management, research, environmental science, plant breeding, soil and water conservation, soil and plant tissue analysis, pest management, farm management, sales
Employers: Extension services, federal agencies, agribusiness, construction companies, plant propagation/production agencies, international agricultural agencies, harvesting and fertilization manufacturers

General information

• Environmental studies provides a broad base of hard sciences, as well as liberal arts or social science coursework; environmental science incorporates hard sciences and environmental sciences.
• Combine liberal arts skills with analytical skills to increase employability. Formally, obtain a double major in these areas or minor in one of these areas. Informally, obtain these skills through internships, co-ops, volunteer work, summer jobs, or independent research projects.
• Be familiar with current environmental laws and regulations. Stay up to date with changing environmental legislation.
• Join related professional associations; read related literature and journals to keep up with new developments.
• Attend seminars, conferences, and workshops sponsored by professional associations or public-interest groups.
• Network and get to know people who are working in your area of interest.
• Research agencies and organizations of interest before applying for a position.
• Learn local, state, and federal government job application procedures.
• Obtain graduate degree for job security and advancement.